Phase transformation/stabilization and ionic conductivity in tantalum oxide co-doped zirconia-scandia solid electrolyte

The influence of small amounts of tantalum oxide as co-dopant on phase transformation and stabilization, microstructure and ionic conductivity of zirconia-10 mol% scandia is reported in this work. Cylindrical pellets were prepared by solid state synthesis with sintering at 1500 °C for 5 h. High relative density values (> 95%) were achieved. Reduction of the enthalpy for the cubic ⇌ β -rhombohedral phase transformation was found for increasing amounts of the co-dopant. Full stabilization of the cubic structure at room temperature was obtained with only 0.45 mol% tantalum oxide addition. The ionic conductivity of sintered specimens was investigated as a function of the temperature and oxygen partial pressure by impedance spectroscopy. The fully stabilized co-doped system revealed a pure ionic conduction behavior up to 800 °C with wide electrolytic domain. In the 700–800 °C range, the ionic conductivity of co-doped specimens is similar to that of pure zirconia-scandia.